Liberty Park Press

‘Gun-Free Zone’ Didn’t Stop St. Cloud Slasher, A Gun Did

The whole country knows the truth about Saturday’s slasher attack at the Crossroads Mall in St. Cloud, Minnesota: the mall’s prohibition on “firearms or illegal weapons” did not prevent the attack, but a good guy with a gun stopped it permanently.

Described in news reports as an “off-duty police officer from another jurisdiction,” Jason Falconer, the man who fatally shot Dahir A. Adan after he stabbed and cut nine people, was essentially an armed private citizen at the moment of confrontation. Falconer, according to published reports, is only a part-time officer and is actually the owner/operator of Tactical Advantage Firearms Training. That’s a private business located in Waite Park, a community just west of St. Cloud and about 40 miles northwest from Minneapolis.

Falconer is a former police chief. He’s also a firearms instructor who “concentrates on firearms training for individuals in a group or private setting, according to the company website. At the time of the shooting, he reportedly was at the mall shopping, and there does not appear to be any exemption for him in the mall’s gun prohibition.

Falconer is being hailed as a hero for having shot Adan. Some reports indicate he had to shoot the knife wielding possible terrorist more than once to put him down.

Reports say Adan asked at least one of his victims if he was a Muslim. The 22-year-old slasher came to this country from Somalia as a youngster. He had lived in the U.S. about 15 years.

The case raises several important points.

“Gun-Free Zones” do not prevent violent crimes, as has been previously demonstrated at the Tacoma Mall, Clackamas Mall outside of Portland, Trolley Square in Salt Lake City and Westroads Mall in Omaha.

Armed citizens who ignore gun prohibitions just might save the day, and many lives, in an emergency.

Marksmanship skills can make a difference. Reports say Falconer is a firearms competitor. Liberty Park Press has attempted to contact Falconer but so far he has not responded.

Violent crimes do not happen on a pre-arranged schedule. It is important to be prepared.

Terrorists prefer “soft targets.”

So far, Adan has not been officially identified as a terrorist by Minneapolis or federal authorities, but a “news agency” reportedly run by the Islamic State has called Adan a “soldier of the Islamic State.”

Combined with the bombings in New York and New Jersey – the suspect in those capers is now in custody having been shot by police – the Minnesota incident underscores concerns about security. These incidents may cause voters to reconsider their choices in November.

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About Dave Workman

Dave Workman is an award-winning career journalist with an expertise in firearms and the outdoors. He is the author of several books dealing with firearms politics. He has a degree in editorial journalism from the University of Washington and is a lifelong Washington resident.